Adapter or bearing

ABSTRACT

A fitting is disclosed which is usable as an adapter or as a bearing and is formed of a short hollow cylindrical tube having at least two annular grooves spaced apart in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of the tube, the grooves being open on the radially outward side and extending inward a small fraction of an inch and the outer surface of the tube, other than the grooves, being a smooth cylinder.

United States Patent 1 Haas [ Oct. 28, 1975 [5 1 ADAPTER OR BEARING [76] Inventor: Edwin J. Haas, 17004 Pearldale 1 Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44135 22] Filed: Sept. 30, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 510,414

[52] US. Cl. ZZZ/402.1; 308/237 R [51] Int. Cl. B65D 83/00 [58] Field of Search 222/4021; 308/237 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Spieth Leland 222/4012 X Rohrbeck 308/237 R I l fllg ki Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Assistant ExaminerHadd Lane Attorney, Agent, or FirmBaldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer [57] ABSTRACT A fitting is disclosed which is usable as an adapter or as a bearing and is formed of a short hollow cylindrical tube having at least two annular grooves spaced apart in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of the tube, the grooves being open on the radially outward side and extending inward a small fractionof an inch and the outer surface of the tube, other than the grooves, being a smooth cylinder.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 3,915,353

ADAPTER R BEARING One object of the invention is to provide a cheap and inexpensive fitting which may serve as an adapter for use in an actuator for an aerosol can having button operator for the control of flow out of the can, this button extending upwardly from the center of the top of the can and having a discharge passageway ending horizontally at a mid-point in a side wall of the button. This actuator includes a disk and a downwardly extending central hollow projection which in use passes over the button to control the flow of liquid out of the aerosol can.

Where this projection is only a loose fit on the button, the fitting of this invention is inserted between the projection and the button to provide a snug fit. Registering openings are provided in the fitting and the projection opposite the discharge passageway opening in the button.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cheap bearing between a cylindrical shaft passing through a cylindrical opening in a wall, the fitting having such dimensions that it fits snugly between the shaft and the inner surface of the hole to form a bearing there.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a fragmental side elevational view of the top of an aerosol can having an actuator fitting over the button operator which controls the discharge from the can;

FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1 except that a portion of the actuator is cut away in central section to show the fitting of this invention resting snugly between the button and the actuator projection;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the adapter as used in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the adapter when used as a bearing; while FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the fitting of FIG. 4 in use as a bearing.

The fitting of this invention is clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It consists of a short hollow cylindrical tube having at least two annular grooves 11 extending around the tube and spaced apart in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical tube. It will be noted that the grooves 11 open radially outwardly and they extend inwardly as annular ribs at 11a a small fraction of an inch, and the rest of the outer surface of the tube, other than the grooves, is a smooth cylinder.

In one embodiment of this invention, the tube is of metal about three-eights of an inch long with eleven thirty-seconds inch inside diameter and thirteen thirtyseconds inches outside diameter, and the grooves 11 extend radially inwardly for about three sixty-fourths of an inch. The opening 12 as shown in FIG. 3 is about three-sixteenths inches in extent. Similar dimensions would apply also to FIG. 4.

The fitting is shown as an adapter in connection with an actuator for an aerosol can in FIG. 2. Here the can 13 has a button operator 14 adapted to press on a control stem 15 which extends down into the can and operates a control valve in a known manner. The button has a discharge passageway 16 which turns laterally outwardly at 16a and terminates at a mid-point in the side wall of the button 14. The actuator includes a disk 17 which is provided integrally with a central hollow projection 18 opening downwardly in a position to pass over the button I4. The hollow of the projection 18 fits loosely over the button 14 and in this case the fitting I0 is placed in the position of FIG. 2 fitting snugly between the outer wall of the button 14 and the inner wall of the projection 18. The projection has a generally U-shape recess opening downwardly and shown at 18a. In working position, the recess 18a registers with the gap 12 of the fitting 10 so that the discharge from the passageway 16a may pass horizontally outwardly when the actuator disk 17 is pushed in a downward direction. In this operation, the grooves extending radially inwardly on the fitting 10 give a snug and well-controlled operation of the actuator l7, 18.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the fitting 10' may be in all respects like that shown and described in connection with FIG. 3 except that it is a complete cylindrical tube member and has no gap such as that shown at 12 in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a cylindrical shaft 19 passing through a cylindrical opening 20 in the wall member 21. The proportions are such that the fitting 10 fits snugly between the outer surface of shaft 19 and the inner surface of the hole 20 as shown in FIG. 5. This provides a low friction bearing at the line contact between the grooves lla and the exterior surface of the shaft 19. At the same time, the outer surface of the tubular fitting at 10a provides a smooth cylinder for the entire fitting outside of the grooves 11. In some cases, this would provide a good press fitting to the interior surface of the hole 20 in wall 21.

A clear view of the opening indicated at 18a in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be seen in FIG. 9 of my copending application Ser. No. 406,257, filed Oct. 15, 1973, now abandoned, for Pressure Dispenser Attachment.

Other uses for the fitting 10 or 10 would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A fitting for use as an adapter for an aerosol can consisting of a short hollow cylindrical tube, there being a gap opening radially through one side of said tube, at least two annular grooves in said tube spaced apart in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of said tube, said grooves opening radially outwardly and ex-' tending inwardly a small fraction of an inch, the outer surface of said tube beyond said grooves being a smooth cylinder, in combination with an actuator for an aerosol can which can has a button operator for control of flow out of the can, said button extending upwardly from the center of the top of said can having a discharge passageway ending horizontally at a midpoint in a side wall of said button, said actuator including a disk and a downwardly extending central hollow projection opening downwardly in position to pass said hollow projection over said button, said hollow of said projection being of a diameter to fit loosely over said button, and said fitting lying between said button and the inner wall of said projection and said fitting having dimensions causing it to fit snugly there, there being registering openings through said gap in said fitting and in said projection opposite said passageway opening in said button.

=I I I I 

1. A fitting for use as an adapter for an aerosol can consisting of a short hollow cylindrical tube, there being a gap opening radially through one side of said tube, at least two annular grooves in said tube spaced apart in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of said tube, said grooves opening radially outwardly and extending inwardly a small fraction of an inch, the outer surface of said tube beyond said grooves being a smooth cylinder, in combination with an actuator for an aerosol can which can has a button operator for control of flow out of the can, said button extending upwardly from the center of the top of said can having a discharge passageway ending horizontally at a mid-point in a side wall of said button, said actuator including a disk and a downwardly extending central hollow projection opening downwardly in position to pass said hollow projection over said button, said hollow of said projection being of a diameter to fit loosely over said button, and said fitting lying between said button and the inner wall of said projection and said fitting having dimensions causing it to fit snugly there, there being registering openings through said gap in said fitting and in said projection opposite said passageway opening in said button. 